The left-handed native of Ladner, B.C. was named the recipient of the 2018 Tip O'Neill award issued by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Paxton beat out Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto, Toronto Blue Jays top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O'Neill for the award. The award is bestowed annually on the "Canadian player who excelled in individual achievement & team contribution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals."

"I am proud to be representing Canada in Major League Baseball and try to do so to the best of my ability," Paxton said in a press release. "I will continue to give everything I have to be the best baseball player and person I can be."

Among previous winners, Larry Walker (nine) has won the award the most times while Votto (seven), Jason Bay (three), Justin Morneau (three) and Eric Gagne (two) have also won the award multiple times.

Paxton, 30, went 11-6 with a 3.76 ERA in 28 starts for the Seattle Mariners in 2018. In 160.1 innings, Paxton struck out 208 batters, the second-most punchouts by a Canadian-born pitcher in a single-season. Among the highlight's in Paxton's standout campaign was a two-start stretch in early May.

On May 2, 2018, 'The Big Maple' struck out 16 Oakland Athletics -- the most strikeouts by a Canadian in a single game. Six days later, he threw the first no-hitter by a Canadian in Canada as he no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays.

"James Paxton had an outstanding season in 2018," Scott Crawford, director of operations of the Hall of Fame, said in the press release. "Not only did he make history when he became the first Canadian to throw a major league no-hitter on Canadian soil, but he also struck out batters at a near-record rate over the course of the season. He's definitely a worthy recipient of the award."

The Mariners traded Paxton to the New York Yankees in late November in exchange for three prospects, including left-handed pitcher Justus Sheffield. Paxton spent his first six MLB seasons in Seattle, where he compiled a 41-26 record with a 3.42 ERA.